A POLICE chief was involved in a ''road rage bust-up'' - with one of his own officers.

Assistant Chief Constable Alan Green saw red after the woman constable swerved in front of his unmarked car in a police van.

After the incident on Bury New Road, Salford, Mr Green followed the WPC to Park Lane police station where he is reported to have shouted at her.

Officers in the station thought their colleague was being attacked and rushed out to help - only to discover the commotion was being caused by their boss.

One said: ''It was unbelievable. We heard raised voices from inside and ran out. He was shouting very loudly about her driving.''

It is understood the officers calmed the situation and Mr Green - one of Greater Manchester's most senior officers with special responsibility for the fight against crime - then stormed off.

After the outburst one of the shocked WPC's supervising officers contacted GMP headquarters to complain about Mr Green's behaviour.

GMP's internal investigations department informally considered the incident, but the constable refused to make a complaint so the matter was dropped.

Mr Green later telephoned the woman officer, who now works at Salford CID, and apologised for the outburst.

A police officer, who did not want to be named, said: ''It is very surprising that someone so high up in the force could lose their temper like this. One of the most important things about enforcing discipline is not to lose your temper.''

A spokesman for GMP said: ''A senior officer witnessed what he felt was inappropriate driving by a police constable and - as is the duty of a senior officer - made it clear to the constable that GMP expects the highest standards of police driving.

''No formal complaints have been received and as far as we are concerned it has been resolved between the two parties.''

ACC Green was promoted two years ago and was formerly in charge of GMP's Community and Internal Affairs Department before taking charge of crime.

Previously he had been the man behind Chief Constable David Wilmot's pledge to defeat ''institutionalised racism'' within the force.

Earlier this week he condemned Greater Manchester's violent criminals after a weekend of gun violence left two people dead and five injured.

He said: ''The public should be reassured that we will not tolerate such criminal behaviour and we will take action.''